Now might be an excellent time to get an advanced degree in nursing, according to experts at the U.S. News University Directory. Not only are nurses in high demand, but expert nurses like nurse practitioners could earn near-six figure incomes.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nursing field is expected to grow by 22 percent through 2018, a pace that is much faster than the average for all professions.
This means there should be almost 600,000 new nursing jobs created over the next eight years, in addition to hundreds of thousands of job openings that will result from nurses who retire or leave for other reasons, according to experts at U.S. News University Directory.
Current research conducted by PayScale.com reveals that the top end salary for a nurse practitioner is $93,000 annually. PayScale.com shows that not only are nurses already in high demand as healthcare professionals, it is a field that is growing faster than any other career.
Nurse practitioner salaries are among the highest in the nursing field, U.S. News experts say. Licensed nurse practitioners (NPs) have the advanced education and training that qualifies them for many of the most sought-after and best-paying positions.
PayScale.com research showed that experience determines NP salaries. NPs with one to four years of experience earn between $65,000 and $80,000 annually. Those who have been in the field for five to nine years bring in anywhere from $70,000 to $88,000 per year, while NPs who have been practicing for over ten years can increase that to more than $93,000.
The location and type of facility at which an NP works also play a role in determining how much NPs can earn. Those who work in large cities, and those employed by surgery centers or the military, tend to have the highest top-end salaries, according to PayScale researchers.
Experts at the U.S. News University Directory said some NPs will also require certification from additional organizations to enter certain specialties. For example, the American Psychiatric Nursing Association sets credentialing standards for nurse practitioners who want to work in the psychiatric field.
U.S. News experts recommend that nurses who plan to go on to become NPs should start with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) followed by successful completion of the National Council Licensure Examination to become a registered nurse.
BSN programs generally better prepare nurses for the rigorous education required of NPs, and also leave graduates at least two years closer to completing their master's or doctoral degree than other RN programs.